<p>Carondelet St. Joseph's Hospital in Tucson, Arizona is recruiting an experienced Registered Nurse for a Charge Nurse (Clinical Lead) role on the Orthopedics unit. This position carries shift-level leadership responsibility — directing staffing, patient throughput, and unit operations in coordination with or in the absence of the nurse manager/director. St. Joseph's is a full-service acute care hospital established in 1961, home to the Carondelet Joint Replacement Center and a Level I Trauma Center, making it a high-acuity, subspecialty-rich environment for a clinician ready to step into a formal leadership role.</p>
<h3>Perks and Benefits</h3> <ul> <li>Sign-on bonus up to $10,000 based on eligibility</li> <li>Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance</li> <li>401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match</li> <li>Health savings accounts (HSA); healthcare and dependent flexible spending accounts (FSA)</li> <li>Generous paid time off</li> <li>Career development and continuing education opportunities</li> <li>Employee Assistance Program and employee discount program</li> <li>Voluntary benefits: pet insurance, legal insurance, accident and critical illness insurance, long-term care, elder and childcare assistance, auto and home insurance</li> </ul>
<h3>Practice Highlights</h3> <ul> <li>Clinical Lead (Charge RN) role on the Orthopedics unit at a hospital anchored by the Carondelet Joint Replacement Center — a dedicated orthopedic subspecialty program</li> <li>Shift-level authority: supervises patient care priorities, evaluates staffing mix, manages patient volumes and acuity, and serves as acting unit manager/director when needed</li> <li>Responsible for real-time staffing decisions accounting for caregiver mix, current and anticipated patient census, and acuity levels</li> <li>Troubleshoots and resolves immediate clinical and operational issues; keeps nurse manager/director informed of circumstances and outcomes</li> <li>Facilitates consistent, adaptive care delivery as patient needs evolve across the shift</li> <li>Level I Trauma Center on campus, with additional service lines including cardiology, Comprehensive Stroke Center, emergency medicine, and labor and delivery</li> <li>Home to the Carondelet Neurological Institute — a resource for complex neurological consultation and cross-service collaboration</li> <li>Operates within the Carondelet Health Network, a well-established regional system with institutional support for professional development</li> </ul>
<h3>Qualifications</h3> <ul> <li>Active, valid Arizona Registered Nurse license required</li> <li>Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing required; BSN preferred but not required</li> <li>Minimum 1 year of clinical RN experience required</li> <li>Minimum 1 year of ICU experience required; Neuro ICU experience preferred</li> <li>Specialty certification from ANCC or an approved credentialing body (e.g., CCRN for critical care) required within 3 years of hire</li> <li>Proficiency with general and unit-specific patient care equipment, communication systems, and basic computer skills; ability to adapt to evolving healthcare technology and support staff through transitions</li> <li>Working knowledge of the Nurse Practice Act and professional nursing standards</li> </ul>
<h3>About the Community</h3> <p>Tucson is Arizona's second-largest city, set against the backdrop of the Sonoran Desert and surrounded by five mountain ranges — offering year-round outdoor recreation including hiking, cycling, and rock climbing within minutes of the city. The metro area combines a low cost of living relative to other major Southwest cities with a vibrant arts scene, University of Arizona cultural and athletic programming, and a diverse, welcoming community. Tucson's warm climate, affordable housing, and access to both urban amenities and wide-open desert landscapes make it a compelling destination for clinicians relocating from higher-cost markets.</p>